Conrail - Boston Line

[Bsklarski]

My father worked at Monstanto / Solutia. It was a 12 hour job. There are many spots in there, plastic cars, box cars, tank cars, coal cars. It can get pretty busy at times. Its a whole job in itself

Brian

[Ian MacMillan]

Still what-if-Conrail, or a new road?

No proto freelancing here...all proto which is really more of what I think I am geared for. CR in 1997, allowing for CR 80MACs and plenty of Amtrak action including Inland Service trains, and GRS interchange.


The Amtrak/CR trains total to 44 a day, and I have yet to add the GRS and CSOR trains.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AoBbkONDqsLIdHFnV3ljOERwWTRIcWg5d3J6WEJNbEE&hl=en

[Bsklarski]

Thats awesome Ian.... but you forgot the SB mail train, Mail 13.

Brian

[Ian MacMillan]

Thats awesome Ian.... but you forgot the SB mail train, Mail 13.

Brian

For around June 1997? Effective 1/1/97 schedules I have list the following mails, 3,4,4K,8,8M,8P,9,9H, 9P, and 44.  What was 13's schedule?

[Ian MacMillan]

Here is the basic trackplan. I'm no DKS! The layout models 6 miles of trackage, from CP 92 to CP 98, so it will be pretty much 1:1 in modeling. The major switching area includes the Fomer Athol Industrial Track (never renamed) and the Athol Industrial Track



Large
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_nAmtu1n1UKs/TREz7fGSxaI/AAAAAAAAniU/x4hiU5yUGSE/s1024/Basic%20trackplan2.gif

[conrail98]

I'll reserve complete opinion until seeing a more detailed plan, but I'm already not liking that blob out into the middle of the room. Is that supposed to be some kind of industrial spur/IT track?

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

I'll reserve complete opinion until seeing a more detailed plan, but I'm already not liking that blob out into the middle of the room. Is that supposed to be some kind of industrial spur/IT track?

Phil

Yes its the Former Athol and the Athol Industrial track. What dont you like about it Phil? It replaces the peninsula that was there, but changes it so that it allows the two IT's to be accurately represented in their proper place. It also keeps switching areas separated from each other so that people are not back to back and creating bottle necks. It also helps keep the track plan in the right order which is a must as I have OCD. Instead of a blob, think of it as a fat mushroom peninsula as it is really 20'x7'. Other than the curves, the trackplan as you see it is pretty well complete.  If I used the peninsula in the form that it was on the AN layout, I think that the IT trackage would be too linear and I would get no where even close to the trackage that I want.  The isles have to a have a 42" min width at any point of the layout.

Here is the Gmaps so that you can see how it actually works out very well I think;
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=214250709356284021874.000497f3e0553548e657c

AN benchwork layout

[DKS]

Here is the basic trackplan. I'm no DKS! The layout models 6 miles of trackage, from CP 92 to CP 98, so it will be pretty much 1:1 in modeling. The major switching area includes the Fomer Athol Industrial Track (never renamed) and the Athol Industrial Track

Yikes, didn't realize this was a gut-the-benchwork decision! Although the blob doesn't bother me as much as Phil, it does kind of shrink the room a bit by doing away with a substantial separator. Also, the track as rendered on the blob (taking into account it's a schematic) I don't think is buildable; by my eye, it has about 2-3 times as much stuff as would comfortably fit. I'll toss it in the AnyRail food processor and see what's possible, but I definitely see the need for some tweaking.

[John]

somehow i would figure out a way to stretch that blob into the middle of the room .. there seems to be a lot of space on the right side that could be used ..

[DKS]

I'd also consider possibly adding a T-shaped backdrop on the blob to break up the space and add some visual mileage. Otherwise it kind of looks like a large door layout floating in the middle of a room connected to an around-the-walls shelf layout.



Food for thought: I also enlarged the blob around the stairs to add even more (actual) mileage.

[conrail98]

You've got to think crews following their train. I'm humming along, bring my train up and BAM, i hit this blob my train isn't going down or even coming back to/through. Oh crap, now I have to run around, I hope there isn't a signal on the other side I need to observe. If you can't tell from this or other comments, I'm a firm believer in being able to follow your train, losing sight only if it comes back towards you and there's nothing you need to do with it while it's out of sight or looping around something else. I get the proto fidelity, but there are compromises we have to make as model railroaders for the sake of making operating a layout fun and enjoyable,

Phil

[Ian MacMillan]

Yes, gut-the-benchwork decision!

Yeah, I know not all that trackage will fit on the blob. But a good switching amount should I beleive. Lets see what AnyRail can give! The divider on the "blob" is an absolute no go. The prototype is right next to each other so there is no need to add space and visual mileage, as I291 separates the two industrial tracks. Standing on I291, which in theory would split the "blob", you should be able to see both lines as in the proto. See below; Athol IT is to the Right and Former Athol IT is to the left. So in real life it does look like this straight main line with some layout that sticks up off of it.


I do like the enlarged blob around the stairs.

Extending right: No can do, stairs are in the way. Sorry about not noting that, Dave's drawing has the stairs in place, as Dave has all the measurements for the basement and what can fit in it, as shown in his drawing.

Following train: Phil, I know exactly what you are talking about. I am all about following your train. However, you never lose sight of it once you run into the "blob" as there is no view block, and coming from the top you have already passed the CP signal, and if coming from the bottom you can see the CP signal, as per the prototype.  Running at prototype speeds, you should have sufficient time to walk around the "blob" at a walking pace before the train hits the curve on the top or bottom. By eliminating the Athol IT, I think that it would really be doing the layout injustice as it produces a lot of switching. The main idea for the layout is the Athol IT, so I think that it needs to be in there. I'm open to ideas as to how it could be better implemented into the layout. With out it the layout is pretty much a roundy round with no interaction.

Dave's drawing has all the right scale because he has the measurements of the room. Actually Dave, other than the area behind the stairs, the left side area of the stairs can have isles 36" wide min.

[Bsklarski]

Its the opposite of the Mail 412. I will have to dig out the books and get back to you

Brian

[DKS]

Actually Dave, other than the area behind the stairs, the left side area of the stairs can have isles 36" wide min.

Sorry, I don't follow what area you're referring to... do you mean the area around the big blob can have 36-inch aisles?

If so, it winds up looking something like this--I added an access hatch in the middle of the blob since you won't be able to reach everything from the aisles.



If you mean a different area, then you'll need to spell it out.

[Bsklarski]

maybe think about the blob coming up from the bottom or the top there? Im trying to see it in my mind. At least you will get rid of some of the curves and ess curves. At least you can run long trains (350 - 400 axles) without string lining you train on the curves. That line is pretty much straight until you get East of Wilbraham to Palmer, then you get into some curves. Just my 2 cents.

Brian